Streams as sensors Arctic watersheds as indicators of
- Slides: 6
Streams as sensors: Arctic watersheds as indicators of change Data Nugget Slides
Where is the Arctic? “Arctic” 1. Polar region above the “Arctic circle” 66° 33’N 2. Sun does not set and does not rise for at least one day per year 3. Region where average temperature for warmest month (July) is below 10°C (Koppen 1923) • Not geographically isolated • Glacial refuges • Ice-free coastal zone in summer • Relatively high plant and animal diversity
What is permafrost? Permafrost = Major C and nutrient ”sink” “Permafrost is a term used to describe permanently frozen ground” Richard D. Seifert, University of Alaska Fairbanks
What is permafrost? Permafrost = Major C and nutrient ”sink” “Permafrost is a term used to describe permanently frozen ground” Richard D. Seifert, University of Alaska Fairbanks
What is tundra? Tundra = treeless barren • Associated with areas of extreme near-polar climate which operates either directly, or through a series of environmental forcing (primarily thaw-layer dynamics) to limit productivity and biodiversity. But not always covered in snow! • Low annual precipitation (effectively a desert despite the freshwater stored in ice) • Flora and fauna characterized by substantial cold adaptation mechanisms • Shallow root systems • Low-lying plant bodies • Why? – Permafrost limits plant growth
Where did the data come from? Arctic Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Station at Toolik Field Station
